- Terpander of Lesbos (7th century BCE): Credited with establishing the first musical scales and standardized musical notation.
- Lasus of Hermione (6th century BCE): Known for his choral compositions and innovations in rhythm.
- Pindar of Thebes (5th century BCE): Celebrated for his odes, which featured complex rhythms and musical structure.
2. Ancient China (11th century BCE - 2nd century CE)
- Shi Kuang (11th century BCE): Legendary musician and composer during the reign of Emperor Yao.
- Ling Lun (27th century BCE): Credited with creating the Chinese musical system, including a twelve-tone scale and standardized pitch pipes.
- Zeng Zi (5th century BCE): Philosopher and composer known for his theories on musical harmony and rhythm.
3. Ancient India (15th century BCE - 5th century CE)
- Bharata Muni (5th century BCE): Author of the Natyashastra, an ancient Indian treatise on dramaturgy, music, and dance.
- Matanga Muni (3rd century BCE): Noted for his work on musical theory, including the concept of tala (rhythmic cycle) in Indian music.
- Sharangadeva (13th century CE): Author of the Sangitaratnakara, a comprehensive Sanskrit text on music theory, which discusses rhythm, melody, and composition.